Archive for October, 2007

Puscifer The Escape Of Maynard James Keenan Maynard James Keenan doesn’t want to talk about Tool, and if anyone deserves some slack, it’s probably him. In the midst of rock’s declining presence in amphitheaters and arenas alike, Tool has achieved the unfathomable, pushing its international 10,000 Days tour past the year-and-a-half mark, selling out huge […]

Say Anything, Hellogoodbye Congress Theatre, Chicago Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Say Anything are not pop punk. At least, not entirely (contrary to popular belief, and even some evidence that would suggest otherwise). If there was ever any doubt before, it was made abundantly clear Wednesday night at the Congress, where the six-piece live outfit, more […]

Atmosphere Metro, Chicago Monday, October 22, 2007 For most MCs, there are a few givens in the hip-hop game: boisterous claims, a righteous sense of entitlement, and a ludicrously inflated ego regardless of the quality of work being put out. Looks like no one told Slug.

The Whigs Schubas, Chicago Friday, November 2, 2007 How do you possibly follow up a record that led Rolling Stone to proclaim you “the best unsigned band in America”? That’s the daunting challenge The Whigs face in January, when their new album is released.

Hellyeah, Otep House Of Blues, Chicago Sunday, November 4, 2007 After his brother Dimebag Darrell was murdered onstage – right in front of him – in 2004, ex-Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul hinted he would never play music professionally again. There was always the feeling, though, Paul would return, it’s just too bad it […]

Cass McCombs/Euros Childs Empty Bottle, Chicago Monday, November 5, 2007/ Tuesday, November 6, 2007 The “singer-songwriter” label frequently oversteps its bounds. In the ’70s it referred directly to the James Taylor/Joni Mitchell/Jackson Browne types, and is used as a perjorative these days to mean any sort of coffeehouse qhinwe. Invoke Elliott Smith at your own […]

Tom Brosseau Cavalier (FatCat) Reducing Tom Brosseau to just him and an acoustic guitar isn’t much of a pare down. A bigger test would be surrounding him with a marching band and patching some electrical tape over his yap. Appearing: Thursday, November 1st at Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago.

Les Savy Fav Let’s Stay Friends (Frenchkiss) For their first album in six years, New York’s Les Savy Fav embrace the disco punk/Gang Of Four revival (they helped touch off) without showing a bit of rust.

Coheed & Cambria Alertante Ending For Coheed And Cambria, it was the end of the world. For most bands, such a statement would easily qualify as hyperbole or, at the very least, exaggeration. Yet for emo/prog rock stars Coheed And Cambria — vocalist and guitarist Claudio Sanchez, guitarist Travis Stever, bassist Mic Todd, and new […]

Avenged Sevenfold Got The Time It’s 4:15 p.m. and still no word from Johnny Christ. The Avenged Sevenfold bassist was supposed to call Illinois Entertainer at 3:30 Central time, 1:30 at the band’s Huntington Beach, California homebase. Forty-five minutes later, though, still nothing. Appearing: November 8th at Congress Theatre in Chicago.

Hello, My Name Is Sammy Q&A With Sammy Hagar IE: What were some of the highlights from your 60th birthday celebration? Sammy Hagar: The highlights were two things: 1) They had huge surprises for me, I mean everyone kept calling me or leaving me messages or e-mailing me saying ‘Hey, we can’t make it. Tell […]

The 1900s Panit The Town Red Whoever said blondes have more fun never met redheaded kindred spirits Jeanine O’Toole and Caroline Donovan. The duo are better known as “The Murphs” to their five comrades in Chicago-based and South Side-representing, ’70s-influenced band The 1900s.

Chaka Khan “This” Is Not A Test Getting on the phone with Chaka Khan for even a few minutes is an arduous planning process, but that’s only because the famed funk diva is currently being pulled in a million different directions.